JP2008113349A - Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize file size of a moving image file by recompressing moving image data of an original moving image file by the optimal compression ratio by which a moving image with image quality desired by a user is obtained. <P>SOLUTION: An apparatus is constituted so that the original moving image file is reproduced, the compression ratio is instructed while watching the reproduced moving image and the moving image recompressed by the instructed compression ratio is watched in real time. Namely, while recompressing the moving image data of the moving image file in real time on the basis of the present compression ratio instructed (a step S20), the recompressed moving image data are extended (a step S26) and the moving image is displayed on the basis of the recompressed/extended moving image data (a step S28). Since a result of the recompression by the instructed compression ratio is reflected on the moving image displayed in this way, the optimal compression ratio is sequentially set according to scenes or motions, etc. of the moving image while watching the moving image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an imaging apparatus, and an image processing method, and more particularly to a technique for optimizing a moving image compression rate.

  In Patent Document 1, a parameter from a peripheral device is received by a digital camera, and an image according to the parameter is transmitted to the peripheral device. For example, a peripheral device having a certain resolution is matched with the resolution of the peripheral device. A digital camera system capable of generating and transmitting a captured image with a digital camera is described.

  Patent Document 2 describes a technique for recompressing an original moving image at a higher compression rate in accordance with an instruction from a user. Note that the compression rate at the time of recompression is set in order to adjust the image quality and the free capacity of the recording medium.

  Further, Patent Document 2 has a description that displays image quality samples with different compression ratios and specifies a compression ratio at the time of recompression by selecting a desired image quality sample. There is a description that the recompression process is automatically performed when the recording medium has insufficient free space.

In Patent Document 3, the user selects a compression method when recompressing a moving image such as “thinning out frames”, “degrading image quality”, or “decreasing resolution”, and the remaining capacity of the recording medium is insufficient. In this case, an image recording apparatus that performs recompression processing according to the selected recompression method is described.
JP 2004-32564 A JP-A-10-243344 JP 2005-136671 A

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 does not reset the compression rate of a moving image and recompress it. Further, the invention described in the cited document 2 describes an invention that specifies a compression rate by selecting a desired image quality sample from image quality samples having different compression rates when resetting the compression rate for a moving image. However, because the shooting conditions and shooting targets differ between the actually shot video and the image quality sample, the desired image quality is not guaranteed even if the compression rate is set by selecting the image quality sample, and the image quality sample When the compression rate is set by selecting the above, there is a problem that the compression rate of the moving image cannot be set finely.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 3, the compression rate is set according to the remaining capacity of the recording medium, and the image quality is not taken into consideration.

  In general, the compression rate of moving image data captured by a digital camera is changed by loading the moving image data into a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) and using software in the PC. Since the PC is designed for general purposes such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory, it takes time until a display of the change result is obtained after a fine change of the compression rate. As a result, there is a problem that image quality deterioration due to a change in the compression rate cannot be recognized in real time, and an optimal compression rate cannot be set for the target moving image data.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the moving image data of the original moving image file can be recompressed at an optimal compression rate, thereby obtaining a moving image having the image quality desired by the user. An object is to provide an image processing apparatus, an imaging apparatus, and an image processing method capable of minimizing the file size of a file.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 is recorded in the recording medium on which the original moving image file is recorded, the compression rate instruction means for instructing the compression rate of the moving image, and the storage medium. Compression decompression that reads the original video file and recompresses the video data of the read video file in real time based on the current compression rate specified by the compression rate instruction means, and decompresses the recompressed video data Means, and internal display means for displaying the moving image data recompressed / expanded in real time by the compression / expansion means, or output means for outputting the moving image data to an external display means, and the compression / expansion means While viewing the video displayed on the internal display means or the external display means based on the video data recompressed / expanded in real time, It is characterized in that to be able to issue an instruction of the compression ratio in real time by condensation rate instructing means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the moving image file is reproduced and the compression rate is instructed while viewing the reproduced moving image, but the recompressed moving image is viewed in real time at the instructed compression rate. To be able to do that. That is, the moving image data of the moving image file is recompressed in real time based on the current compression rate instructed by the compression rate instruction means, and the recompressed moving image data is expanded, and the recompressed / expanded moving image data is The video is displayed based on this. The displayed video reflects the result of recompression at the compression rate specified by the compression rate instruction means, so the optimal compression rate is set sequentially according to the scene and movement of the video while watching the video. can do. The moving image may be displayed on a display unit such as a liquid crystal monitor attached to the image processing apparatus or may be displayed on an external display unit (such as a PC monitor), but it is easy to check the image quality of the moving image. It is preferable to display a moving image on an external display means (large monitor). As the compression / decompression means, by using dedicated hardware in the image processing apparatus, it is possible to compress / decompress moving image data while changing the compression rate in real time.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recompressed frame recompressed by the compression / expansion unit is added to a temporary file created in advance, and all the original moving image files are recompressed. It is characterized by having recording means for replacing the temporary file with the original video file when the frame is added to the temporary file. Thereby, the creation time of the recompressed moving image file can be shortened.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a compression rate setting unit that records a compression rate instructed in real time by the compression / decompression unit in relation to a position of moving image data, The compression / decompression unit re-compresses the moving image data of the original moving image file according to the compression rate set by the compression rate setting unit when the compression rate of all moving image data of the original moving image file is set. It is a feature.

  That is, the compression rate setting means records the compression rate instructed in real time in relation to the position of the moving image data (for example, the time from the start of moving image reproduction or the frame number). Then, the compression / decompression unit recompresses the moving image data of the original moving image file at the recorded compression rate after setting the compression rate of all the moving image data.

  Note that the recompression process may be repeated a plurality of times to achieve a desired compression rate. However, in the invention described in claim 2, the setting of the compression ratio for the second and subsequent times can be set only in the direction in which the compression ratio is higher than the previous compression ratio, but in the invention described in claim 3, Since the compression rate specified in real time is recorded in relation to the position of the video data, by correcting this recorded compression rate, not only to increase the compression rate, but also to decrease it Can also be corrected.

  4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the moving image file of the recompressed moving image data is replaced with an original moving image file recorded on the recording medium, or output to the outside. It is characterized by having means.

  5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising connection means for performing bidirectional communication with a personal computer, wherein the connection is performed instead of the compression rate instruction means. In accordance with an operation of a user interface of a personal computer connected to the means, a moving image compression rate instruction is accepted. By using the user interface of the personal computer, a more detailed compression rate can be set.

  6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connection unit for performing bidirectional communication with the personal computer, wherein the original computer is connected to the connection unit. The moving image file is received and recorded on the recording medium. That is, the original moving image file recorded on the recording medium of the image processing apparatus may be transferred from an external device.

  An imaging apparatus according to a seventh aspect includes an imaging unit capable of capturing a moving image, a recording unit that records the moving image data acquired via the imaging unit as an original moving image file on a recording medium, and any one of claims 1 to 6 And an image processing apparatus as described above.

  Since the imaging apparatus includes dedicated hardware for compressing and decompressing moving image data, it can be used effectively.

  The moving image processing method according to claim 8 reads the original moving image file recorded on the recording medium, re-compresses the moving image data of the read moving image file in real time based on the currently instructed compression rate, The step of expanding the recompressed moving image data, the step of displaying the moving image on the display means based on the moving image data recompressed / expanded in real time, and operating the user interface while watching the moving image displayed on the display means And a step of instructing the compression rate in real time and a step of recording the recompressed moving image data.

  According to the present invention, the moving image data of the original moving image file is recompressed in real time based on the designated current compression rate, and the recompressed moving image data is expanded, and the recompressed / expanded moving image data is used. Since the video can be displayed, the optimal compression rate can be set while viewing the video that reflects the result of the recompression at the specified compression rate in real time. And the file size of the recompressed moving image file can be minimized.

  Preferred embodiments of an image processing apparatus, an imaging apparatus, and an image processing method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Overall configuration of digital camera]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an internal configuration of an imaging apparatus (digital camera) 10 according to the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment is capable of shooting and reproducing still images and moving images. The image sensor 14 (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) mainly composed of a shooting optical system 12 and a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD. Analog signal processing circuit 16, A / D converter 18, image input controller 20, image processing circuit 22, compression parameter processing circuit 24, compression / decompression processing circuit 26, media control circuit 28, memory (RAM) 30 , Audio processing circuit 32, audio reproduction circuit 34, speaker 36, audio input circuit (microphone) 38, image reproduction processing circuit 40, video encoding circuit 42, LCD drive circuit 44, liquid crystal (LCD) monitor 46, communication interface 48, operation An operation unit having switches SW1 to SWn and a focus lens of the photographing optical system 12 , And a zoom lens, a motor 50 and a driver 52 for driving the diaphragm or the like, and a central processing unit (CPU) 54 and the like.

  The operation unit 50 includes a power switch SW1, a shooting / playback mode selection switch SW2, a shutter button (recording button) SW3, a menu / OK switch, a multifunction cross key, and the like.

  The overall operation of the digital camera 10 is comprehensively controlled by the CPU 54, and the CPU 54 controls each part of the digital camera 10 according to a predetermined program based on an input from the operation unit 50.

  The CCD 14 is composed of a color CCD having a predetermined color filter array (for example, honeycomb array). Light incident on the light receiving surface of the CCD 14 via the photographing optical system 12 is converted into signal charges of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light by each photodiode arranged on the light receiving surface. The signal charges accumulated in each photodiode are sequentially output from the CCD 14 as a voltage signal (image signal).

  The analog signal processing unit 16 includes a CDS circuit and an analog amplifier. The CDS circuit performs a correlated double sampling process on the CCD output signal input from the CCD 16, and the analog amplifier performs a CDS circuit with a gain set according to the photographing sensitivity. The image signal output from is amplified. The A / D converter 18 converts the analog image signal output from the analog signal processing unit 16 into a digital image signal.

  The image input controller 20 includes a buffer memory having a predetermined capacity, accumulates one frame of the image signal output from the A / D converter 18, and stores it in the RAM 30.

  The image processing circuit 22 includes a white balance correction circuit, a gamma correction circuit, a synchronization circuit, a contour correction circuit, a luminance / color difference signal generation circuit, etc., and processes an image signal stored in the RAM 30 in accordance with a command from the CPU 54 to obtain a luminance. A YC signal composed of the signal Y and the color difference signals Cb and Cr is generated.

  When a live view image (moving image) is displayed on the LCD monitor 46, images are continuously captured by the CCD 14, and the obtained image signal is continuously processed to generate a YC signal. The generated YC signal is applied to the video encoding circuit 42 and the LCD drive circuit 44 via the RAM 30 and the image reproduction processing circuit 40. The video encoding circuit 42 generates a video signal for TV display (NTSC system) from the input YC signal, and outputs the video signal to the TV monitor 60 when the TV monitor 60 is connected to the video output terminal. . The LCD drive circuit 44 converts the input YC signal into a signal format for LCD display and outputs it to the LCD monitor 46. Thereby, a live view image (moving image) is displayed on the LCD monitor 46 (and the TV monitor 60).

  When a still image or a moving image is recorded, an image is picked up by the CCD 14 in response to a shooting command from the shutter button SW3, and the obtained image signal is processed to generate a YC signal. The generated YC signal is added to the compression / decompression processing unit 32, and predetermined compressed image data (for example, JPEG in the case of a still image) according to the compression parameter (substantially compression rate) set by the compression parameter processing circuit 24. In the case of a moving image, it is stored in the recording medium 62 via the media control circuit 28 as a motion JPEG file.

  A file (still image file, moving image file) stored in the recording medium 62 is read from the recording medium 62 in accordance with a reproduction command, converted into an uncompressed YC signal by the compression / decompression processing circuit 26, and then reproduced. The data is output to the LCD monitor 46 via the processing circuit 40 and the LCD drive circuit 44. As a result, the still image or moving image recorded on the recording medium 62 is reproduced and displayed on the LCD monitor 46.

  The audio processing circuit 32 processes an audio signal input from the microphone 38 when shooting a moving image and sends it to the compression / decompression processing circuit 26. The compression / decompression processing circuit 26 converts the moving image data and audio data into motion JPEG in real time. Convert to create a video file. Further, at the time of moving image reproduction, audio data among the data of the moving image file expanded by the compression / decompression processing circuit 26 is added to the audio processing circuit 32, and after necessary audio processing is performed here, the audio reproduction circuit (D / A converter, amplifier) 34 and output to the speaker 36. Thereby, the sound recorded together with the moving image can be reproduced.

  The communication interface 48 is, for example, a USB or IEEE 1394 communication standard, and can be connected to a PC. Via this communication interface 48, various data and commands are communicated with the PC in two ways.

  The digital camera 10 can record a moving image on the recording medium 62 with the highest image quality (the compression rate is minimum or uncompressed). Further, by operating the menu / OK switch and the cross key to set the compression rate change mode, the moving image file (original moving image file) recorded on the recording medium 62 is recompressed to an arbitrary compression rate, It has a function to replace the original movie file.

  Hereinafter, a moving image processing method for changing the compression rate of a moving image according to the present invention will be described.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of processing in the digital camera 10 according to the present invention.

  First, the communication interface 48 of the digital camera 10 and the communication interface 116 of the PC 100 shown in FIG. 3 are connected so that a moving image can be displayed on the monitor 120 of the PC. Instead of the PC monitor 120, a TV monitor 60 may be connected to the video output terminal of the digital camera 10 so that a moving image can be displayed on the TV monitor 60.

  After making the above preparations, the digital camera 10 is set to the compression rate change mode, and a process for recompressing the moving image file in the recording medium 62 instructed to reproduce the moving image is instructed. Start (step S10).

  One frame of moving image data (compressed frame) is read from the head of the specified moving image file in the recording medium 62 according to the recompression start instruction (step S12). It is determined whether or not the read frame is the final frame of the moving image (step S14). If it is not the final frame, the process proceeds to step S16, and if it is the final frame, the process proceeds to step S18.

  In step S16, it is determined whether or not a temporary file for storing the recompressed frame is created in the recording medium 62. If it is created, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S22, a temporary file is created.

  In step S20, the read one frame of moving image data (compressed frame) is decompressed by the compression / decompression processing circuit 26 and then recompressed at the currently set compression rate. The compression rate setting (instruction) can be set as appropriate using the user interface (UI) of the digital camera 10. For example, the currently set compression rate (%) is displayed on the LCD monitor 46 of the camera, and the compression rate (%) is increased or decreased by operating the up key or the down key of the cross key of the operation unit 50. Can be instructed to change Note that the compression rate of the original moving image file is 100%.

  The recompressed frame recompressed as described above is added to the temporary file (step S24), and then the recompressed frame is expanded (step S26). The expanded one-frame moving image data is sent to the PC 100 via the communication interface 48 and displayed on the monitor 120 as a frame image (step S28). As a result, the user can confirm the image quality of the image (moving image) compressed with the currently set compression rate on the monitor 120 displayed as described above in real time while using the camera UI. You can give instructions.

  In step S30, it is determined whether or not a compression rate change instruction is input from the camera UI. If no compression rate change instruction is input, the process proceeds to step S12 as it is, and the compression rate change instruction is input. If so, the process proceeds to step S32, where the current compression ratio is changed, and then the process proceeds to step S12.

  As described above, the processing from step S12 to step S32 is repeated over the entire moving image. When the process up to the end of the frame of the moving image is completed, the process proceeds to step S18, where the original moving image file is deleted from the recording medium 62 (step S18), and the temporary file in which the recompressed moving image data is recorded. The original movie file name is changed (step S34).

  Note that when setting recompression as described above, the playback speed of the moving image is not limited to the normal playback speed, and may be set arbitrarily.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the PC 100 connected to the digital camera 10.

  As shown in the figure, the PC 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 102 that mainly controls the operation of each component, a main memory 104 that stores a control program for the device and serves as a work area when the program is executed, and the PC 100. Operating system (OS), device drivers for peripheral devices connected to the PC 100, various application software including programs used when compressing moving images, moving image files and the like, a CD-ROM drive 108, The monitor 120 detects the state of the graphic board 110 that can control the display of the monitor 120, the keyboard controller 112 that detects the key operation of the keyboard 122 and outputs it to the CPU 102 as an instruction input, and the mouse 124 as the position input device. Mousepoi on A mouse controller 114 for outputting signals such as the position of the computer and the state of the mouse 124 to the CPU 102; , And a bus 118 for connecting the above components.

  The PC 100 having the above-described configuration is well known except for a program stored in the hard disk device 108 and used when compressing a moving image, and a detailed description of each component will be omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the original moving image file is recorded by the digital camera 10 and recorded on the recording medium 62. However, the moving image file is not limited to this and is stored in the hard disk device 106 of the PC 100. The moving image file may be transferred to the digital camera 10 via the PC communication interface 116 and the camera communication interface 48 and stored in the recording medium 62.

  In this embodiment, the compression rate is set using the camera UI, but the compression rate is set (instructed) using the UI of the PC 100 instead of the camera UI. May be. When using the UI of the PC 100, it is possible to set an appropriate compression rate using more complicated compression parameters than when using the UI of the camera.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a graph showing the transition of the compression rate is displayed on a part of the monitor 120 and the compression rate of a certain part of the moving image is increased, the position on the graph corresponding to the part is displayed. You can drag with the mouse and set the compression rate as shown by the dotted line.

  The moving image file recompressed according to the first embodiment may be used as the original moving image file, and the original moving image file may be further recompressed.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of processing in the digital camera 10 according to the present invention.

  As in the first embodiment, the digital camera 10 and the PC 100 are connected in advance (see FIG. 3), then the digital camera 10 is set to the compression rate change mode, and the playback of the moving image is instructed. A process for recompressing the moving image file in the recording medium 62 instructed to be reproduced is started (step S50).

  One frame of moving image data (compressed frame) is read from the head of the specified moving image file in the recording medium 62 in response to the start of recompression, and the one frame of moving image data thus read is decompressed by the compression / decompression processing circuit 26. Then, recompression is performed at the currently set compression rate (step S52). Note that the compression rate is set (instructed) as appropriate using the UI of the PC 100 as described above.

  The recompressed frame recompressed as described above is expanded (decompressed) (step S54), and the expanded data is transmitted to the PC 100 to display an image (moving image) on the monitor 120 of the PC 100 (step S56). Thereby, the user can check the image quality of the image (moving image) compressed with the currently set compression rate from the image displayed on the monitor 120, and the compression rate of the moving image using the UI of the PC 100 Can be set in real time according to the scene, cut, etc. of the moving image.

  In step S58, it is determined whether or not an instruction to change the compression ratio is input from the UI of the PC 100. If no instruction to change the compression ratio is input, the process proceeds to step S60 as it is, and an instruction to change the compression ratio is issued. If it is input, the process proceeds to step S62, where the currently set compression rate is changed, and then the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S62, the compression rate is stored in association with the position information of the moving image data (the time from the start of playback of the moving image, the frame number, etc.), and the history of the transition of the compression rate is thereby stored.

  In step S60, it is determined whether or not the process up to the end of the frame of the moving image has been completed. If not, the process proceeds to step S52. On the other hand, when it is determined that the processing up to the end of the frame of the moving image has been completed, the processing for setting the compression rate of the original moving image file ends.

  In addition, after the setting process of the compression rate of the original moving image file is completed as described above, the compression rate setting process may be restarted again. In this case, the compression rate can be reset based on the previously set compression rate saved in step S62. That is, if there is no instruction to change the compression ratio (up / down compression ratio) from the UI of the PC 100, the previously set compression ratio is maintained, and if there is an instruction to change the compression ratio, there is an instruction to change it. The compression rate for the part of the frame is changed from the previous compression rate.

  In this embodiment, the compression rate is set using the UI of the PC 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the compression rate may be set using the camera UI.

<First Modification of Second Embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a first modification of the second embodiment of the processing in the digital camera 10 according to the present invention. In addition, the same step number is attached | subjected to the part which is common in 2nd Embodiment, The detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the first modification of the second embodiment, the processes of steps S70 and S72 are added to those of the second embodiment.

  First, the digital camera 10 and the PC 100 are connected in advance, and the digital camera 10 is set to the compression rate change mode to prepare for the recompression of the moving image file, as in the second embodiment.

  After the above preparation, the video file to be recompressed is transmitted from the PC 100 to the digital camera 10, and the digital camera 10 receives the video file as the original video file to be recompressed and saves it in the recording medium 62 of the digital camera 10. (Step S70).

  When the digital camera 10 finishes receiving the moving image file from the PC 100, the digital camera 10 transmits a reception end reply to the PC 100 (step S72).

  Thereafter, the digital camera 10 uses the received moving image file as a file to be recompressed, and performs a compression rate setting process as in the first embodiment.

<Second Modification of Second Embodiment>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second modification of the second embodiment of the processing in the digital camera 10 according to the present invention. In addition, the same step number is attached | subjected to the part which is common in the 1st modification of 2nd Embodiment, The detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the second modification of the second embodiment, the processes of steps S80, S82, S84, and S86 are added to the first modification of the second embodiment. ing.

  In step S80, it is determined whether or not the data transferred from the PC 100 is a moving image file that can be recompressed by the digital camera 10. If the data is corresponding data, the process proceeds to step S50. The process proceeds to step S82 where an error response is transmitted to the PC 100. For example, when the digital camera 10 supports only motion JPEG moving image files, an error response is transmitted when another moving image file such as MPEG is received.

  In step S84, it is determined whether or not the compression rate instructed to change by the UI of the PC 100 is a compression rate that can be supported by the camera. If the compression rate is a corresponding compression rate, the process proceeds to step S62. In step S86, an error response is transmitted to the PC 100.

<Third Modification of Second Embodiment>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a third modification of the second embodiment of the processing in the digital camera 10 according to the present invention. In addition, the same step number is attached | subjected to the part which is common in the 2nd modification of 2nd Embodiment, The detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, in the third modification example of the second embodiment, the processes of steps S90 and S92 are added to the second modification example of the second embodiment.

  In step S90, using the compression ratio set in step S62 and stored in association with the position information of the moving image data, the moving image data of the original moving image file is decompressed and recompressed at a compression rate corresponding to each frame. . In step S92, the moving image file recompressed in step S90 is transferred to the PC 100.

  The digital camera 10 may automatically delete the original moving image file in the recording medium 62 after transferring the recompressed moving image file to the PC 100. Further, the recompressed moving image file may be recorded on the recording medium 62 without being transferred to the PC 100, or may be replaced with the original moving image file in the recording medium 62.

  In this embodiment, the digital camera 10 is described as an example of the imaging apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to a digital video camera. The present invention can also be applied to other image processing apparatuses equipped with dedicated hardware for a compression / decompression processing circuit for moving image files.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the case of motion JPEG as a moving image file has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to recompression of moving image files of other file formats such as MPEG.

  In the case of motion JPEG, the minimum unit for setting the compression rate can be one frame at a time. However, when the moving image file is MPEG, I picture (Intra-coded picture), B picture (Bidirectionally predictive- Coded picture), P picture (Predictive-coded picture) 1 group (GOP: Group of picture (GOP: Group of picture) starting from I picture) and set the compression rate, it will recompress at that compression rate .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an internal configuration of an imaging apparatus (digital camera) according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of processing in the digital camera according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a PC connected to the digital camera. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen when the compression rate is set by the user interface (UI) of the PC. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of processing in the digital camera according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a first modified example of the second embodiment of the processing in the digital camera according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second modification of the second embodiment of the processing in the digital camera according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a third modification of the second embodiment of the processing in the digital camera according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Imaging device (digital camera), 12 ... Imaging optical system, 14 ... CCD, 24 ... Compression parameter processing circuit, 26 ... Compression / decompression processing circuit, 28 ... Media control circuit, 40 ... Image reproduction processing circuit, 42 ... Video Encoding circuit, 44 ... LCD drive circuit, 46 ... Liquid crystal monitor, 48, 116 ... Communication interface, 50 ... Operation unit, 54, 102 ... Central processing unit (CPU), 60 ... TV monitor, 62 ... Recording media, 100 ... Personal Computer (PC) 104 ... Main memory 106 ... Hard disk device 110 ... Graphic board 120 ... Monitor 124 ... Mouse

Claims (8)

A recording medium on which the original video file is recorded;
Compression rate instruction means for indicating the compression rate of the video,
The original moving image file recorded in the storage medium is read out, and the moving image data of the read moving image file is recompressed in real time based on the current compression rate instructed by the compression rate instruction means, and the recompression is performed. Compression / decompression means for decompressing the recorded video data,
An internal display means for displaying moving image data recompressed and expanded in real time by the compression / expansion means, or an output means for outputting the moving image data to an external display means,
Instructing the compression ratio in real time by the compression ratio instruction means while watching the moving picture displayed on the internal display means or the external display means based on the moving picture data recompressed / expanded in real time by the compression / expansion means An image processing apparatus characterized by being capable of performing   A record in which the recompressed frame recompressed by the compression / decompression unit is added to a temporary file created in advance, and when all the recompressed frames of the original moving image file are added to the temporary file, the temporary file is replaced with the original moving image file. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means. Compression ratio setting means for recording the compression ratio instructed in real time by the compression / expansion means in relation to the position information of the moving image data;
The compression / decompression unit recompresses the moving image data of the original moving image file according to the compression rate set by the compression rate setting unit when the compression rate of all moving image data of the original moving image file is set. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a recording unit that replaces the moving image file of the recompressed moving image data with an original moving image file recorded on the recording medium, or a unit that outputs the moving image file to the outside. .   Connection means for performing two-way communication with a personal computer, instead of the compression ratio instruction means, accepts instructions for the compression ratio of moving images in accordance with the operation of the user interface of the personal computer connected to the connection means The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus.   6. A connection means for performing bidirectional communication with a personal computer, wherein the original moving image file is received from the personal computer connected to the connection means and recorded on the recording medium. An image processing apparatus according to any one of the above. Imaging means capable of video recording;
Recording means for recording the moving image data acquired via the imaging means as an original moving image file on a recording medium;
An image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An imaging apparatus comprising: Reading the original moving image file recorded in the recording medium, recompressing the moving image data of the read moving image file in real time based on the currently designated compression rate, and decompressing the recompressed moving image data; ,
Displaying a moving image on a display means based on the moving image data recompressed and expanded in real time;
Instructing the compression rate in real time by operating the user interface while watching the video displayed on the display means;
Recording the recompressed video data;
An image processing method comprising:

Images